Improvement in b reech-loading ordnance



' Y 3 Sheeips-Sheet 1'. R. L. MILLS Breeeh' Loadmg Ordnance.

No. 41-,631. Y "Patented Feb. 16, 1864 W} 5 S I inventor.

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'3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

R; L. MILLS Breeeh-L0ading Ordnance.

Patented Feb. 16, 1.864. v

" UNiran Smarts PATENT @rrrcnt BIOI-IABD LANSING MILLS, or ooLUMB s, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH==LOADING ORDNANCE.

Specification iorming part of Letters Patent No. 43.5},63H, dated February 16, 1864.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RICHARD LANSING MrLLs, of Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Breech-Loading Gannon; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and exact description of the same, refcren ce being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which Figure I is a side elevation of my improved cannon. Fig. II is a front view thereof. Fig. III is a rear view of' the same. Fig. IV is a verticallongitudinal section. Fig. V is a top View ofthe shifting-handle and yoke, hereinafter to be described. Fig. VI is a vertical transverse section at x :10, Fig. IV.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The subject of my invention is a breechloading cannon provided with a chambered breech-block adapted to slide in a steel-lined opening in-the rear of the cannon, as hereinafter explained.

The invention further consists in a peculiar construction of yoke for communicating motion to the said breech-piece and admitting of readily removing it from the gun; also, in peculiar devices for elevating or depressing the gun and operating the aforesaid yoke and breech-block; also, in an improved device for tightening the j oint between the sliding breechblock and the barrel; also, in a provision to prevent the fouling and reduce the friction of the moving parts.

In order that others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains may be enabled to fully understand and use the same, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A represents the main body orbarrel of the gun, attached by trunnions a to a limber, L, which is supported at front on wheels W and at back rests on the ground.

B is a chambered block fitted to slide transversely in a steel-lined horizontal opening ex- D is a handle pivoted or fulcrumed upon the upper part of the elevating-screw G, or upon the screw J, by which it is attached to the gun, and connected to the yoke G by afork pierced with elongated apertures to receive pins 0", projecting from the said yoke, for the purpose of imparting motion to the latter, as hereinafter explained. The elevating screw G is provided with a hand-wheel, H, for turning it, and works at its lower end in a nut, I, attached by a hinge-joint to the limber L. The upper end of the screw is connected by a universal joint to a bolt, J, by which it is firmly secured to the breech in such a manner as to control the elevation as well as the depression of the breech, and thus prevent the depression of the muzzle in the act of firing. The.

bolt J forms the pivot or fulcrum of the shiftuniversal joint may be constructed in anysuitable way; but by preference I make it substantially in' the manner represented in Fig. IV, in which G represents the lower or main portion of the screw, and G a ball-head provided with a shank, g, by which it is secured to the screw G.

G is a socket which receives and holds the head G, and is secured over the head of the screw J, by which it is attached to the gun. In putting together these parts the shank g is passed through the socket G and secured within the screw G by means of a screw or pin, and the socket is afterward bolted to the handle D, as shown, or directly to the head of the screw J.

The breech-block B may be cast or forged of an entire piece of steel, with one, two, or more chambers, each having at back an aperture for the reception of a nipple, N. p

O is an oblique rod pressed outward by a spring, 0, ready to receive the stroke of the hammer P, and explode the cap upon the nipple of any chamber of the breech-block B which may be in position corresponding with the bore.

Q represents a steel bushing or lining formed with round corners and inserted within the breech for the block B to work in. The said bushing, being corrugated on its exterior surface, is placed in suitable position within the mold in which the gun is to be cast, the metal is run around it, and the corrugations secure itimmovably in position.

2 Masai.

B is a recess in the bushing Q for the pur- I wedge F. The rear of the chambers in the pose of preventing fouling and reducing friction.

F is a wedge interposed between the block B and the rear of the opening in which it slides, for the purpose of pressing the block forward against the rear of the barrel when the piece is to be discharged. The said wedge is moved up and down by a lever, S.

Operation: Supposing the gun to be empty and the parts in the positions represented in Figs. II and III, the left-hand chamber of the block Bis loaded and capped. By then mov ing the block to the rightby means of the handle D, until the wing 0 comes in contact with the breech, the loaded chamber'will be placed accurately in position for discharge, which is eifected by means of the hammer P, operating through the medium of the rod 0. This motion of the block also places the right-hand chamber in position for loading and capping, and this may be discharged in like manner, when the block is restored to its former position. The firing may thus be kept up with great rapidity. The wings c c constitute gages to indicate accurately the correct positions of the chambers for firing. By placing the block B in an intermediate position, both chambers are exposed to the air, so that the block will rapidly cool. \Vhen it is necessary to remove the block B, in order to render the gun useless to an enemy, or for any other purpose, it is quickly released by taking off the nuts Z2 and turning down the hinged wing c, as shown in Fig. II. The block may then be drawn out and carried away. The front of the breechblock is ground to the casing, so as to form a gas-tight joint when forced against it by the said block is of conical or tapering form, and their nipples are made to communicate with them in such a manneras toignite the powder at the extreme rear end of the chamber. By this means the force of the recoil is much redueed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A breech loading cannon constructed with a steel-lined opening passing completely through its breech, and'provided with an oblong round-cornered block, B, fitted to slide therein and operated by a yoke and lever, substantially as herein described.

2. The yoke O, constructed with hinged wings c 0, serving the combined purposes of communicating motion to the block, indicating its correct position for firing, and permitting its ready removal, all as hereinbefore explained.

3. The wedge F, applied and operated by the lever S, in the manner described, for closing the joint between the breech-piece and the rear of the barrel.

4. The combination of the screw G, movable ball G, socket G", and jointed nut L, all constructed and operating in the manner and for the purposes set forth.

5. The recess R in the bushing Q, employed in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

The above specification signed this 25th day of March, 1863.

RICHARD LANSING MILLS.

lVitnesses:

OCTAVIUS KNIGHT, CHARLES SMITH. 

